{"id":919075,"date":"2026-07-11T15:11:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T20:11:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/11\/weekly-roundup-broker-expansion-ai-innovation-and-regulatory-moves-drive-industry-changes\/"},"modified":"2026-07-11T15:11:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T20:11:59","slug":"weekly-roundup-broker-expansion-ai-innovation-and-regulatory-moves-drive-industry-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/11\/weekly-roundup-broker-expansion-ai-innovation-and-regulatory-moves-drive-industry-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekly Roundup: Broker Expansion, AI Innovation and Regulatory Moves Drive Industry Changes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-v-bdc0e43e>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The week saw brokers pursue acquisitions, regulatory<br \/>\napprovals and expansion into new markets while adapting to evolving<br \/>\nregulations. Authorities in Europe and Australia stepped up oversight, as firms<br \/>\nalso accelerated AI adoption and platform upgrades to strengthen their<br \/>\ncompetitive positions.<\/p>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>IG Group Seeks Jersey Holding Company as Strategic Review<br \/>\nContinues<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>IG Group asked shareholders to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/forex\/brokers\/ig-group-proposes-jersey-holding-company-as-half-year-revenue-rises-18\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>approve<br \/>\na new Jersey-incorporated holding company<\/a> while reporting an 18% rise in<br \/>\nfirst-half revenue to about \u00a3643 million.<\/p>\n<figure data-media-id=\"d5378b94-d258-4fde-865a-4901fe355829\" data-v-bdc0e43e><figcaption data-v-bdc0e43e>\n<p>Breon Corcoran, CEO, IG Group<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The proposal forms part of the<br \/>\nstrategic review launched in March and is intended to provide greater financial<br \/>\nflexibility for a business that now generates around two-thirds of its revenue<br \/>\noutside the UK.<\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The company said its London Stock Exchange listing, UK tax<br \/>\nresidency and London operations would remain unchanged. IG also confirmed an<br \/>\norganisational overhaul, merging its regional consumer businesses into a single<br \/>\ndivision led by Michael Healy. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Meanwhile, the group reaffirmed its upgraded<br \/>\nfull-year guidance despite much of its reported customer growth reflecting<br \/>\nrecent acquisitions rather than organic expansion.<\/p>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>J. Safra Sarasin Completes Takeover of Saxo Bank<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Bank J. Safra Sarasin agreed to acquire founder <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/forex\/j-safra-sarasin-takes-full-control-of-saxo-bank-with-purchase-of-kim-fournais-remaining-stake\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>Kim<br \/>\nFournais&#8217; remaining indirect 28.69% stake in Saxo Holding AG<\/a>, completing<br \/>\nits move to full ownership of Saxo Bank. The transaction follows the Swiss<br \/>\nbanking group&#8217;s acquisition of more than 70% of the business in 2025 and<br \/>\nremains subject to regulatory approval. <\/p>\n<blockquote data-v-bdc0e43e>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\" data-v-bdc0e43e>J. Safra Sarasin Increases Its Stake in Saxo: Just months after completing its majority acquisition of Saxo Holding, Bank J. Safra Sarasin has moved to acquire the remaining stake held by founder Kim Fournais, making it the sole sharehol&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OKxTgl42Mi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-v-bdc0e43e>https:\/\/t.co\/OKxTgl42Mi<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 finews.ch (@finews_ch) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/finews_ch\/status\/2074105708270833790?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-v-bdc0e43e>July 6, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Saxo Bank said it will continue<br \/>\noperating as an independent entity while benefiting from the financial backing<br \/>\nof its new parent. Fournais will remain Chairman of the Board, providing<br \/>\ncontinuity for clients and employees. The company also said it expects to<br \/>\nreport its strongest first-half financial performance on record, driven by<br \/>\ncontinued growth in client numbers and assets under management.<\/p>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>Trade Nation Launches European Business Through Portugal<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure data-media-id=\"a16563e1-7533-4070-9199-635fb03f75c9\" data-v-bdc0e43e><figcaption data-v-bdc0e43e>\n<p>Luis Dos Santos, CEO of Portugal at Trade Nation (Photo: LinkedIn)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Trade Nation formally entered the European Union by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/forex\/trade-nation-gets-its-european-passport-stamped-courtesy-of-portugal\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>launching<br \/>\nregulated services through a new Portuguese entity<\/a> authorised by the<br \/>\nComiss\u00e3o do Mercado de Valores Mobili\u00e1rios. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The licence enables the broker to<br \/>\npassport CFD products across the EU, covering forex, indices, commodities,<br \/>\nshares and bonds through its proprietary platforms, TradingView and MetaTrader<br \/>\n4. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The move follows the opening of its Lisbon office last year and supports the<br \/>\ncompany&#8217;s broader international expansion strategy. Trade Nation has also been<br \/>\nconsolidating its business following the integration of TD365 into its main<br \/>\nbrand and rebuilding its senior management team, while its UK business has<br \/>\nreturned to profitability after several years of losses.<\/p>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>Coinbase Expands UK Business Beyond Cryptocurrency<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Coinbase received <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/forex\/coinbase-expands-beyond-crypto-in-the-uk-with-fca-approval-for-stocks-and-derivatives\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>UK<br \/>\nauthorisation allowing it to offer traditional investment services<\/a><br \/>\nalongside its existing cryptocurrency business. The approval enables<br \/>\ninstitutional clients to access derivatives, including crypto, equity and<br \/>\ncommodity perpetual futures, while retail customers will be able to trade<br \/>\nequities on the platform for the first time. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The expansion follows the<br \/>\ncompany&#8217;s earlier launch of regulated derivatives across Europe under its<br \/>\nCyprus MiFID II licence. Coinbase said the new authorisation supports its<br \/>\nstrategy of building a unified financial platform combining crypto trading with<br \/>\nequities, derivatives, payments, savings and borrowing products ahead of the<br \/>\nUK&#8217;s planned crypto regulatory regime in 2027.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-v-bdc0e43e>\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\" data-v-bdc0e43e>\n<p>Today marks our biggest ever expansion of Coinbase UK&#8217;s product suite.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ve now secured an investment services authorisation in the UK, enabling us to soon offer both equities and derivatives.<\/p>\n<p>Another step to bringing the everything exchange worldwide. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/sns3IGRHHM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-v-bdc0e43e>pic.twitter.com\/sns3IGRHHM<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u2014 Coinbase \ud83d\udee1\ufe0f (@coinbase) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/coinbase\/status\/2074439593470906570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-v-bdc0e43e>July 7, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>ASIC Cancels Trive Australia&#8217;s Financial Services Licence<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Australia&#8217;s corporate regulator cancelled <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/forex\/trive-lost-australia-license-after-ceasing-onboarding-new-cfd-traders-a-year-ago\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>the<br \/>\nfinancial services licence of Trive&#8217;s local subsidiary<\/a> after determining it<br \/>\nwas no longer conducting financial services business. The broker stopped<br \/>\nonboarding new Australian clients in April 2025 before operations ceased<br \/>\nentirely, leading to the licence cancellation on 1 July after 14 years. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The<br \/>\ndecision follows ASIC&#8217;s broader review of the country&#8217;s CFD industry, which<br \/>\nidentified widespread compliance deficiencies among brokers. The regulator<br \/>\npreviously said more than 38,000 retail traders received around AU$40 million<br \/>\nin refunds following the review. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>ASIC also reported that Australian retail CFD<br \/>\ntraders collectively lost more than AU$458 million during 2024, reinforcing its<br \/>\ncontinued focus on the sector.<\/p>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>eToro Adds AI Investing Tools as IC Markets Prepares<br \/>\nWebsite Migration<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure data-media-id=\"7c91b375-07c0-43c7-ae3e-98b7612ea572\" data-v-bdc0e43e><figcaption data-v-bdc0e43e>\n<p>Yoni Assia, the CEO of eToro<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Elsewhere, platform development remained a priority as eToro<br \/>\nand IC Markets announced separate technology updates. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/fintech\/etoro-adds-ai-refreshes-brand-with-a-new-logo-ic-markets-plans-website-migration\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>eToro<br \/>\nintroduced a redesigned mobile application centred on its AI assistant<\/a>,<br \/>\nTori, alongside new active trading tools, AI-powered portfolios, desktop<br \/>\ntrading capabilities and expanded crypto self-custody services. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The company<br \/>\nalso unveiled refreshed branding featuring a new logo and tagline. Separately,<br \/>\nIC Markets confirmed it will migrate its website from icmarkets.com to ic.com<br \/>\nas part of a wider branding initiative. The broker said temporary service<br \/>\ninterruptions may occur during the migration but advised that client accounts<br \/>\nand partner referral links would remain unaffected.<\/p>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>Governance, Rather Than New Rules, Seen as Key to AI<br \/>\nTrading<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Artificial intelligence continued to feature prominently<br \/>\nacross the brokerage industry, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/forex\/ai-trading-doesnt-need-new-rules-it-needs-better-governance\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>prompting<br \/>\nrenewed debate over regulation<\/a>. In an opinion piece for <em data-v-bdc0e43e>Finance Magnates<\/em>,<br \/>\nit was argued that AI-powered trading products should generally be governed<br \/>\nunder existing financial services rules rather than through a new AI-specific<br \/>\nregulatory framework.<\/p>\n<figure data-media-id=\"5cfdb8e1-b2bb-4aac-8558-b8b8dd8fd2c9\" data-v-bdc0e43e><\/figure>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The focus, the article suggested, should remain on<br \/>\ngovernance, operational resilience and accountability instead of the underlying<br \/>\ntechnology. As brokers introduce conversational trading interfaces and<br \/>\nAI-assisted execution tools, firms were urged to ensure robust audit trails,<br \/>\nclear client permissions and effective risk controls. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The distinction between<br \/>\nexecution tools and products providing investment advice was identified as a<br \/>\nkey regulatory consideration.<\/p>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>Tradeify Outlines Growth Strategy as Futures Prop Trading<br \/>\nExpands<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Tradeify&#8217;s founders said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/executives\/tradeify-co-founders-difficult-to-enter-futures-prop-subscription-ditch-barely-moved-revenue\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>the<br \/>\nfutures prop trading firm has grown sevenfold over the past year to more than<br \/>\n100,000 active traders<\/a>, positioning it among the sector&#8217;s fastest-growing<br \/>\nfirms. During an interview with <em data-v-bdc0e43e>Finance Magnates<\/em>, the company outlined<br \/>\nplans to expand through a newly launched introducing broker business, broader<br \/>\nmulti-asset offerings and prediction markets. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The founders also explained why<br \/>\nTradeify abandoned subscription-based evaluation accounts in favour of one-time<br \/>\npayments after internal data showed little impact on revenue.<\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Alongside growth<br \/>\ninitiatives, the firm highlighted fraud prevention as its biggest operational<br \/>\nchallenge and said artificial intelligence now plays an increasing role in<br \/>\ndetecting suspicious trading activity and improving customer support.<\/p>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>Organic Short-Form Video Gains Ground in Financial<br \/>\nMarketing<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Another opinion piece examined how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/forex\/why-one-organic-reel-can-be-worth-more-than-thousands-spent-on-paid-press\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>organic<br \/>\nshort-form video is reshaping marketing strategies across financial services<\/a>.<br \/>\nThe article argued that platforms such as Instagram Reels and TikTok can<br \/>\ndeliver significantly greater reach than traditional paid press or advertising<br \/>\nat a lower cost, particularly for business-to-consumer brands. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>While paid media<br \/>\nremains valuable for credibility and search visibility, organic content was<br \/>\npresented as an increasingly important channel for customer acquisition and<br \/>\nlong-term audience engagement. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The piece suggested many financial firms<br \/>\ncontinue to underinvest in creator-led and founder-driven content despite<br \/>\ngrowing evidence that organic social media generates stronger engagement and<br \/>\nbetter returns than conventional digital advertising.<\/p>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>Industry Faces Pressure on Fees, Financial Education and<br \/>\nWorkforce Skills<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Separately, this week&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/forex\/fees-finfluencers-and-the-skills-that-matter\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>Market<br \/>\nWatch column highlighted several broader industry trends<\/a>. New research from<br \/>\ninvestment consultancy bfinance pointed to continued pressure on active asset<br \/>\nmanagement fees, although pricing benefits remain uneven across different<br \/>\nmarkets and investor groups. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The column also revisited concerns surrounding<br \/>\nfinancial influencers, arguing that improving financial education and stronger<br \/>\nplatform oversight may prove more effective than regulating content creators<br \/>\ndirectly. Meanwhile, a survey by the CFA Institute found communication,<br \/>\ncollaboration and other soft skills are increasingly valued by finance<br \/>\nemployers.<\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e> Management respondents ranked these attributes ahead of artificial<br \/>\nintelligence capabilities when assessing career progression and leadership<br \/>\npotential.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-v-bdc0e43e>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\" data-v-bdc0e43e>LATEST: \u26a1 MiCA-compliant euro stablecoins grew 128% in market cap to $673.9M in the year before Europe\u2019s MiCA transition period ended, according to Decta. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/DHPQwoFNxS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-v-bdc0e43e>pic.twitter.com\/DHPQwoFNxS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CoinMarketCap\/status\/2074528164760445385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-v-bdc0e43e>July 7, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>EU Lawmakers Turn Attention to DeFi, Staking and<br \/>\nTokenised Assets<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Rounding out the week&#8217;s developments, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/cryptocurrency\/regulation\/eu-lawmakers-look-beyond-mica-targeting-defi-and-staking\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>European<br \/>\nlawmakers signalled that further crypto regulation could follow shortly<\/a><br \/>\nafter the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) became fully applicable.\n<\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The European Parliament called on the European Commission to examine whether<br \/>\ndecentralised finance, staking, lending, NFTs and tokenised assets require<br \/>\nadditional oversight under existing financial market rules. The report also<br \/>\nexpressed stronger support for regulated euro-denominated stablecoins as part<br \/>\nof Europe&#8217;s broader competitiveness strategy. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>For brokers, fintechs and<br \/>\ninstitutional firms, the review indicates that areas currently outside MiCA&#8217;s<br \/>\nscope may become the next focus of EU regulatory policy as digital asset<br \/>\nmarkets continue to evolve.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-v-bdc0e43e>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The week saw brokers pursue acquisitions, regulatory<br \/>\napprovals and expansion into new markets while adapting to evolving<br \/>\nregulations. Authorities in Europe and Australia stepped up oversight, as firms<br \/>\nalso accelerated AI adoption and platform upgrades to strengthen their<br \/>\ncompetitive positions.<\/p>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>IG Group Seeks Jersey Holding Company as Strategic Review<br \/>\nContinues<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>IG Group asked shareholders to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/forex\/brokers\/ig-group-proposes-jersey-holding-company-as-half-year-revenue-rises-18\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>approve<br \/>\na new Jersey-incorporated holding company<\/a> while reporting an 18% rise in<br \/>\nfirst-half revenue to about \u00a3643 million.<\/p>\n<figure data-media-id=\"d5378b94-d258-4fde-865a-4901fe355829\" data-v-bdc0e43e><figcaption data-v-bdc0e43e>\n<p>Breon Corcoran, CEO, IG Group<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The proposal forms part of the<br \/>\nstrategic review launched in March and is intended to provide greater financial<br \/>\nflexibility for a business that now generates around two-thirds of its revenue<br \/>\noutside the UK.<\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The company said its London Stock Exchange listing, UK tax<br \/>\nresidency and London operations would remain unchanged. IG also confirmed an<br \/>\norganisational overhaul, merging its regional consumer businesses into a single<br \/>\ndivision led by Michael Healy. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Meanwhile, the group reaffirmed its upgraded<br \/>\nfull-year guidance despite much of its reported customer growth reflecting<br \/>\nrecent acquisitions rather than organic expansion.<\/p>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>J. Safra Sarasin Completes Takeover of Saxo Bank<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Bank J. Safra Sarasin agreed to acquire founder <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/forex\/j-safra-sarasin-takes-full-control-of-saxo-bank-with-purchase-of-kim-fournais-remaining-stake\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>Kim<br \/>\nFournais&#8217; remaining indirect 28.69% stake in Saxo Holding AG<\/a>, completing<br \/>\nits move to full ownership of Saxo Bank. The transaction follows the Swiss<br \/>\nbanking group&#8217;s acquisition of more than 70% of the business in 2025 and<br \/>\nremains subject to regulatory approval. <\/p>\n<blockquote data-v-bdc0e43e>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\" data-v-bdc0e43e>J. Safra Sarasin Increases Its Stake in Saxo: Just months after completing its majority acquisition of Saxo Holding, Bank J. Safra Sarasin has moved to acquire the remaining stake held by founder Kim Fournais, making it the sole sharehol&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OKxTgl42Mi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-v-bdc0e43e>https:\/\/t.co\/OKxTgl42Mi<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 finews.ch (@finews_ch) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/finews_ch\/status\/2074105708270833790?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-v-bdc0e43e>July 6, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Saxo Bank said it will continue<br \/>\noperating as an independent entity while benefiting from the financial backing<br \/>\nof its new parent. Fournais will remain Chairman of the Board, providing<br \/>\ncontinuity for clients and employees. The company also said it expects to<br \/>\nreport its strongest first-half financial performance on record, driven by<br \/>\ncontinued growth in client numbers and assets under management.<\/p>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>Trade Nation Launches European Business Through Portugal<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure data-media-id=\"a16563e1-7533-4070-9199-635fb03f75c9\" data-v-bdc0e43e><figcaption data-v-bdc0e43e>\n<p>Luis Dos Santos, CEO of Portugal at Trade Nation (Photo: LinkedIn)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Trade Nation formally entered the European Union by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/forex\/trade-nation-gets-its-european-passport-stamped-courtesy-of-portugal\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>launching<br \/>\nregulated services through a new Portuguese entity<\/a> authorised by the<br \/>\nComiss\u00e3o do Mercado de Valores Mobili\u00e1rios. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The licence enables the broker to<br \/>\npassport CFD products across the EU, covering forex, indices, commodities,<br \/>\nshares and bonds through its proprietary platforms, TradingView and MetaTrader<br \/>\n4. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The move follows the opening of its Lisbon office last year and supports the<br \/>\ncompany&#8217;s broader international expansion strategy. Trade Nation has also been<br \/>\nconsolidating its business following the integration of TD365 into its main<br \/>\nbrand and rebuilding its senior management team, while its UK business has<br \/>\nreturned to profitability after several years of losses.<\/p>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>Coinbase Expands UK Business Beyond Cryptocurrency<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Coinbase received <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/forex\/coinbase-expands-beyond-crypto-in-the-uk-with-fca-approval-for-stocks-and-derivatives\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>UK<br \/>\nauthorisation allowing it to offer traditional investment services<\/a><br \/>\nalongside its existing cryptocurrency business. The approval enables<br \/>\ninstitutional clients to access derivatives, including crypto, equity and<br \/>\ncommodity perpetual futures, while retail customers will be able to trade<br \/>\nequities on the platform for the first time. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The expansion follows the<br \/>\ncompany&#8217;s earlier launch of regulated derivatives across Europe under its<br \/>\nCyprus MiFID II licence. Coinbase said the new authorisation supports its<br \/>\nstrategy of building a unified financial platform combining crypto trading with<br \/>\nequities, derivatives, payments, savings and borrowing products ahead of the<br \/>\nUK&#8217;s planned crypto regulatory regime in 2027.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-v-bdc0e43e>\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\" data-v-bdc0e43e>\n<p>Today marks our biggest ever expansion of Coinbase UK&#8217;s product suite.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ve now secured an investment services authorisation in the UK, enabling us to soon offer both equities and derivatives.<\/p>\n<p>Another step to bringing the everything exchange worldwide. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/sns3IGRHHM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-v-bdc0e43e>pic.twitter.com\/sns3IGRHHM<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u2014 Coinbase \ud83d\udee1\ufe0f (@coinbase) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/coinbase\/status\/2074439593470906570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-v-bdc0e43e>July 7, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>ASIC Cancels Trive Australia&#8217;s Financial Services Licence<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Australia&#8217;s corporate regulator cancelled <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/forex\/trive-lost-australia-license-after-ceasing-onboarding-new-cfd-traders-a-year-ago\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>the<br \/>\nfinancial services licence of Trive&#8217;s local subsidiary<\/a> after determining it<br \/>\nwas no longer conducting financial services business. The broker stopped<br \/>\nonboarding new Australian clients in April 2025 before operations ceased<br \/>\nentirely, leading to the licence cancellation on 1 July after 14 years. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The<br \/>\ndecision follows ASIC&#8217;s broader review of the country&#8217;s CFD industry, which<br \/>\nidentified widespread compliance deficiencies among brokers. The regulator<br \/>\npreviously said more than 38,000 retail traders received around AU$40 million<br \/>\nin refunds following the review. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>ASIC also reported that Australian retail CFD<br \/>\ntraders collectively lost more than AU$458 million during 2024, reinforcing its<br \/>\ncontinued focus on the sector.<\/p>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>eToro Adds AI Investing Tools as IC Markets Prepares<br \/>\nWebsite Migration<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure data-media-id=\"7c91b375-07c0-43c7-ae3e-98b7612ea572\" data-v-bdc0e43e><figcaption data-v-bdc0e43e>\n<p>Yoni Assia, the CEO of eToro<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Elsewhere, platform development remained a priority as eToro<br \/>\nand IC Markets announced separate technology updates. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/fintech\/etoro-adds-ai-refreshes-brand-with-a-new-logo-ic-markets-plans-website-migration\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>eToro<br \/>\nintroduced a redesigned mobile application centred on its AI assistant<\/a>,<br \/>\nTori, alongside new active trading tools, AI-powered portfolios, desktop<br \/>\ntrading capabilities and expanded crypto self-custody services. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The company<br \/>\nalso unveiled refreshed branding featuring a new logo and tagline. Separately,<br \/>\nIC Markets confirmed it will migrate its website from icmarkets.com to ic.com<br \/>\nas part of a wider branding initiative. The broker said temporary service<br \/>\ninterruptions may occur during the migration but advised that client accounts<br \/>\nand partner referral links would remain unaffected.<\/p>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>Governance, Rather Than New Rules, Seen as Key to AI<br \/>\nTrading<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Artificial intelligence continued to feature prominently<br \/>\nacross the brokerage industry, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/forex\/ai-trading-doesnt-need-new-rules-it-needs-better-governance\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>prompting<br \/>\nrenewed debate over regulation<\/a>. In an opinion piece for <em data-v-bdc0e43e>Finance Magnates<\/em>,<br \/>\nit was argued that AI-powered trading products should generally be governed<br \/>\nunder existing financial services rules rather than through a new AI-specific<br \/>\nregulatory framework.<\/p>\n<figure data-media-id=\"5cfdb8e1-b2bb-4aac-8558-b8b8dd8fd2c9\" data-v-bdc0e43e><\/figure>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The focus, the article suggested, should remain on<br \/>\ngovernance, operational resilience and accountability instead of the underlying<br \/>\ntechnology. As brokers introduce conversational trading interfaces and<br \/>\nAI-assisted execution tools, firms were urged to ensure robust audit trails,<br \/>\nclear client permissions and effective risk controls. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The distinction between<br \/>\nexecution tools and products providing investment advice was identified as a<br \/>\nkey regulatory consideration.<\/p>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>Tradeify Outlines Growth Strategy as Futures Prop Trading<br \/>\nExpands<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Tradeify&#8217;s founders said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/executives\/tradeify-co-founders-difficult-to-enter-futures-prop-subscription-ditch-barely-moved-revenue\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>the<br \/>\nfutures prop trading firm has grown sevenfold over the past year to more than<br \/>\n100,000 active traders<\/a>, positioning it among the sector&#8217;s fastest-growing<br \/>\nfirms. During an interview with <em data-v-bdc0e43e>Finance Magnates<\/em>, the company outlined<br \/>\nplans to expand through a newly launched introducing broker business, broader<br \/>\nmulti-asset offerings and prediction markets. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The founders also explained why<br \/>\nTradeify abandoned subscription-based evaluation accounts in favour of one-time<br \/>\npayments after internal data showed little impact on revenue.<\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Alongside growth<br \/>\ninitiatives, the firm highlighted fraud prevention as its biggest operational<br \/>\nchallenge and said artificial intelligence now plays an increasing role in<br \/>\ndetecting suspicious trading activity and improving customer support.<\/p>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>Organic Short-Form Video Gains Ground in Financial<br \/>\nMarketing<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Another opinion piece examined how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/forex\/why-one-organic-reel-can-be-worth-more-than-thousands-spent-on-paid-press\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>organic<br \/>\nshort-form video is reshaping marketing strategies across financial services<\/a>.<br \/>\nThe article argued that platforms such as Instagram Reels and TikTok can<br \/>\ndeliver significantly greater reach than traditional paid press or advertising<br \/>\nat a lower cost, particularly for business-to-consumer brands. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>While paid media<br \/>\nremains valuable for credibility and search visibility, organic content was<br \/>\npresented as an increasingly important channel for customer acquisition and<br \/>\nlong-term audience engagement. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The piece suggested many financial firms<br \/>\ncontinue to underinvest in creator-led and founder-driven content despite<br \/>\ngrowing evidence that organic social media generates stronger engagement and<br \/>\nbetter returns than conventional digital advertising.<\/p>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>Industry Faces Pressure on Fees, Financial Education and<br \/>\nWorkforce Skills<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Separately, this week&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/forex\/fees-finfluencers-and-the-skills-that-matter\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>Market<br \/>\nWatch column highlighted several broader industry trends<\/a>. New research from<br \/>\ninvestment consultancy bfinance pointed to continued pressure on active asset<br \/>\nmanagement fees, although pricing benefits remain uneven across different<br \/>\nmarkets and investor groups. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The column also revisited concerns surrounding<br \/>\nfinancial influencers, arguing that improving financial education and stronger<br \/>\nplatform oversight may prove more effective than regulating content creators<br \/>\ndirectly. Meanwhile, a survey by the CFA Institute found communication,<br \/>\ncollaboration and other soft skills are increasingly valued by finance<br \/>\nemployers.<\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e> Management respondents ranked these attributes ahead of artificial<br \/>\nintelligence capabilities when assessing career progression and leadership<br \/>\npotential.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-v-bdc0e43e>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\" data-v-bdc0e43e>LATEST: \u26a1 MiCA-compliant euro stablecoins grew 128% in market cap to $673.9M in the year before Europe\u2019s MiCA transition period ended, according to Decta. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/DHPQwoFNxS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-v-bdc0e43e>pic.twitter.com\/DHPQwoFNxS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CoinMarketCap\/status\/2074528164760445385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-v-bdc0e43e>July 7, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2 data-v-bdc0e43e><strong data-v-bdc0e43e>EU Lawmakers Turn Attention to DeFi, Staking and<br \/>\nTokenised Assets<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>Rounding out the week&#8217;s developments, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/cryptocurrency\/regulation\/eu-lawmakers-look-beyond-mica-targeting-defi-and-staking\/\" target=\"_self\" data-v-bdc0e43e>European<br \/>\nlawmakers signalled that further crypto regulation could follow shortly<\/a><br \/>\nafter the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) became fully applicable.\n<\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>The European Parliament called on the European Commission to examine whether<br \/>\ndecentralised finance, staking, lending, NFTs and tokenised assets require<br \/>\nadditional oversight under existing financial market rules. The report also<br \/>\nexpressed stronger support for regulated euro-denominated stablecoins as part<br \/>\nof Europe&#8217;s broader competitiveness strategy. <\/p>\n<p data-v-bdc0e43e>For brokers, fintechs and<br \/>\ninstitutional firms, the review indicates that areas currently outside MiCA&#8217;s<br \/>\nscope may become the next focus of EU regulatory policy as digital asset<br \/>\nmarkets continue to evolve.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemagnates.com\/forex\/weekly-roundup-broker-expansion-ai-innovation-and-regulatory-moves-drive-industry-changes\/\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><br \/>\n Tareq Sikder<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The week saw brokers pursue acquisitions, regulatory approvals and expansion into new markets while adapting to evolving regulations. Authorities in Europe and Australia stepped up oversight, as firms also accelerated AI adoption and platform upgrades to strengthen their competitive positions. IG Group Seeks Jersey Holding Company as Strategic Review Continues IG Group asked shareholders to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":919076,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[731,23325],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-919075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-roundup","category-weekly"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/919075","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=919075"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/919075\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/919076"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=919075"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=919075"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=919075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}